Hadewijch VANDENHEEDE
2008-2011
Abstract:
This PhD research studies ethnic health differences. Health and illness are social phenomena. They contribute to the process of surviving and dying and are the outcome of a large and diverse set of risk factors during lifetime. Consequently, ethnic health differentials are the result of a complex interplay of mechanisms. The first aim of this study is to develop a theoretical framework of these ethnic patterns in health. The aim is twofold: on the one hand, we focus on a situational analysis of the association between ‘ethnicity’ and health; on the other hand we also pay attention to the importance of migration. In migrant health, conditions in the country of destination, conditions in the country of origin and conditions during migration play a crucial part. A second objective of this research is to broaden our understanding of ethnic differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. In many countries, ethnic differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes are found. Clinical practice and research both strongly indicate a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan origin. In particular, we aim at understanding the socio-economic determinants and specific cultural mechanisms responsible for these differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This second research question is studied by means of quantitative as well as qualitative research techniques.
< BACK